Embedded Files
Antagonistic Activities of Needle-Leaf Fungal Endophytes against Fusarium spp.
Ronel Brandon C. De Mesa, Isabel Rafaela Espinosa, Ma. Carmella Romana R. Agcaoili, Marie Antonette T. Calderon, Ma. Victoria B. Pangilinan, Jewel C. De Padua, and Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz
MycoAsia 2020/06.
https://doi.org/10.59265/mycoasia.2020-06
Abstract
The utilization of beneficial living microbes and their products for controlling plant pathogens offers a safer alternative to chemical treatments. This study focuses on the isolation of needle-leaf fungal endophytes (NLE) from symptom-free needle leaves of two host plants collected in Cavite and Batangas, Philippines. Seventy-three NLEs were isolated from three tree samples of the angiosperm Casuarina equisetifolia Engl. and the gymnosperm Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon, and they were identified as belonging to 17 morphospecies. Seven NLEs, predominantly isolated from C. equisetifolia, were evaluated for their antagonistic activities against three potential plant pathogens, namely Fusarium oxysporum s. l. Smith & Swingle, F. solani s. l. (Mart.) Sacc., and F. moniliforme s. l. J. Sheld., using the dual-culture method with three strategies. The results showed that the NLEs inhibited F. oxysporum on contact through preventive, eradicative, and simultaneous approaches, suggesting the potential of fungal endophytes as biocontrol agents against F. oxysporum s. l.
Plain Language Summary
Using helpful microbes to manage plant diseases offers a safer alternative to chemicals. This study explored fungi that live harmlessly inside the needles of healthy pine and casuarina trees in the Philippines. Researchers isolated 73 of these fungi and tested seven of them to see if they could fight three types of harmful, disease-causing fungi. By growing them together in a lab dish, they found that the helpful fungi successfully stopped the growth of one of the pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum, upon contact. This suggests these needle-leaf fungi have potential as natural biocontrol agents to protect plants.
Report abuse